Lifesaver prevented an off today:

[Badjelly]

Sounds to me as if you weren't looking and pulled into the path of the car!

If someone is turning right then it is normal for traffic to go to the left to get past them - that's what the car behind you did. You left your move too late and instead of stopping, checking and then moving, you just pulled left.

Had there been a coming together, you would have been charged - and hurt as well!

Why was it OK for the car behind to pass r_t_b on the left when he had not indicated a right turn?

[Grub]

Why was it OK for the car behind to pass r_t_b on the left when he had not indicated a right turn?

Well I guess I was relying on the original poster's message ....

Was heading up Carlton Gore Road from Newmarket today, when the car in front of me indicated to turn right.

[Badjelly]

Well I guess I was relying on the original poster's message ....

... which didn't say r_t_b was indicating a right turn, so the car behind shouldn't have passed him, at least not without ascertaining that it was safe to do so. The onus, as usual, is on the overtaking vehicle to ensure the manoeuvre is safe. Of course if he did have good evidence that r_t_b was turning right--eg he had been sitting behind a right-indicating car for some time and making no effort to move left--then it would be different.

Not that I'm arguing against your point that the behaviour of the car behind was somewhat predictable. It just sounds to me that the driver was a little impatient.

[Okey Dokey]

Sometimes the position of the bike within the lane has something to do with it. I know this has been discussed in other threads. Some cars will push into your space unless you "own" your lane; mopeds and learners seem to experience this a lot.

Good to be reminded of the head check/lifesaver.

[vifferman]

they didnt have learner licences 35 years ago..

Not true.
What you did was sit the written and oral part of the test (or, if you already had another vehicle licence, just the oral part), paid your 50 cents, which gave you a temporary licence (I think it was called a 'provisional') which allowed you to ride a bike on the road (for 6 weeks or months or summat). So you could learn.
Then, at any stage, you could sit your licence test. Otherwise, just keep paying 50c to extend your learners.
There were no big 'L' plates: you were supposed to have a special registration sticker that had an "L" printed on it, but it wasn't a big deal if you didn't have that (like if you were riding you sister's boyfriend's CB350).
You were also supposed to stick to a bike less than 250cc, but it wasn't a big deal if you didn't do that (like if you were riding you sister's boyfriend's CB350).

[scumdog]

Looking over your shoulder before changing position on the road.

Taught to everyone who gets a licence in the uK.

Called a 'head-sweep' over here - by those who have been taught it.

Trust not your mirrors 100%.

[Macktheknife]

Lifesaver, also known as a 'headcheck', but I am sure everybody knew that already.

Glad you got the basics working and can now appreciate the value of looking where you want to go. Stay safe.

[Ragingrob]

Yeah overall I'm pretty sure it would've been your fault it you'd hit him for um, pulling into a car! Although maybe it'd be a bit sketchy as he was passing on the left, which is only fine if you're turning right. You've gotta be quick or leave it ay, like as soon as they indicate you should move towards the left otherwise people will push on through.

[release_the_bees]

Just to expand on my original point, the moment the car in front indicated right, I did a headcheck to the left to ascertain that it was clear to pass the car in front of me. The car behind me was already beside me, meaning they had started their overtaking before the car in front had indicated at all. IE they were gonna pass me on the left regardless of what the car in front was doing.

[gijoe1313]

So .. its now a lifesaving headcheck sweep now? Gottit!

[Ragingrob]

Just to expand on my original point, the moment the car in front indicated right, I did a headcheck to the left to ascertain that it was clear to pass the car in front of me. The car behind me was already beside me, meaning they had started their overtaking before the car in front had indicated at all. IE they were gonna pass me on the left regardless of what the car in front was doing.

Alright that's all good then, and they definitely weren't turning left into a gas station or road or anything? And there definitely wasn't two lanes, especially a right hand turning lane you were in?

[Hitcher]

So .. its now a lifesaving headcheck sweep now? Gottit!

To be sure to be sure.

[Insanity_rules]

or the nice looking swedish tourists walking by the side of the road and you end up getting the whiplash version from the doubletake ...

Mmmmm Swedish! Or those cute little German hotpants wearing fit girlies!!!!

[release_the_bees]

Alright that's all good then, and they definitely weren't turning left into a gas station or road or anything? And there definitely wasn't two lanes, especially a right hand turning lane you were in?

• It was a single lane road, but pretty wide, so I have adjusted my riding position a bit now to try to minimize the chance of history repeating itself
• A couple of hundred metres from where the incident took place the road splits into two lanes. They turned left at that lane and I went straight through.

Most importantly though bike and rider lived to fight another day. In my 10 years of riding (almost everyday), this is the first time I have experienced this. Must be just lucky I guess :-S